Former Air Force Senior Airman Brian Kolfage, center, sits in a wheelchair during the National September 11 Memorial and Museum's "Salute to Service" tribute. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, file)

(Newser)
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An Air Force veteran who started a GoFundMe page to help fund construction of President Trump's border wall has already raised millions of dollars, the AP reports. The crowdsourcing page launched this week by Brian Kolfage has a fundraising goal of $1 billion and had generated more than $11 million in donations as of Friday morning. That makes it one of GoFundMe's top five campaigns ever, notes USA Today, though Kolfage's efforts to circumnavigate Congress are complicated by the fact that Homeland Security can't accept private donations without Congressional approval. And if the funds can't be used for their stated purpose, the New York Post notes that GoFundMe's terms will require Kolfage to reimburse all donors.

In a statement posted on the page, Kolfage says the wall could be built if each of the 63 million people who voted for Trump pledged $80 each; he's racked up more than 181,000 donors as of this writing. Kolfage says he has contacted the Trump administration about where to send the funds. A triple-amputee injured in the Iraq war in 2004, Kolfage went on to serve at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. (The wall still may cause a government shutdown.)

I think they've hit on a good way to elect the President. GoFund the candidates and the one with the most money by end of election day wins. I mean, the one with the most money usually wins. We just don't have to bother with those silly ballots. :o)

mongoink

Dec 22, 2018 12:03 AM CST

You'd think an Air Force veteran would realize planes can go over walls!

EastCoastJ

Dec 21, 2018 11:19 PM CST

Good for him for actually taking action and doing something. If Mexico or any other source won't pay for the wall, then....this is worth a try. (Though I'll still admit I'm not convinced a physical wall is the best solution here).